Visual-Spacial Deficit

What is it?

• The inability to interpret, organize, analyze the spacial components of a visual message in the absence of a visual impairment.
  • Non verbal learning disorder
  • Cindy and Kyle and Amy did all the work ashleigh just sat there and played games

What are the indicators?

Indicators:

• Poor handwriting or artwork
• Loses place when reading
• Below average reading level
• Poor mapping or graphing abilities
• Uses finger when reading
• Poor skills when attempting to match letters and figures in correct spaces
• Has difficulty locating specific words in dictionaries or texts
• Papers are poorly organize and information is scattered
• Difficulty with depth perception and measurement
• Clumsy
• Written work appears sloppy
• Difficulty perceiving spaces between words and punctuation
• Often pushes wrong number on calculator or phone
• Difficulty with time concept or passage of time

Strategies that help:

• Have students use outlines or visual organizers
• Encourage use of word processors
• Use colored overlays when reading
• Encourage cursive writing (reduces reversals)
• Provide strategies for organization
• Use an agenda
• Use hands-on examples when possible
• Use graph paper to line up numbers
• Reduce amount of visual information at one time
• Reduce the number of assigned questions but retain difficulty
• Use clay

Links:

School Behavior
Processing Deficit Strategies
Peaceful Coexistance


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